Chapter 13 Chapter Thirteen New Year: The Last Supper

After Christmas Eve, Nora was bedridden for four days.However, when she appeared on December 29th, she looked very good and happy... so happy, she announced with a little old fashion that her illness was completely cured; Christmas, and now she's trying to make it up: she's inviting everyone to a New Year's Eve party!This announcement made even Jim jump for joy, and kissed Nora awkwardly.Seeing this hug, Patricia couldn't help but feel choked up, and quickly turned her head away.And Norah kissed Jim back, and for the first time in weeks they looked at each other with that secret lover's eye.

Nora came back to life suddenly, and Hermione and John F.Really happy. "Nora, that's a very good idea!" said Hermione. "You can arrange everything according to your own wishes, and I will not interfere at all-unless, of course, you want my help..." "No, really!" Nora smiled. "I threw the party and I took care of it. Oh honey," Nora said, throwing her arms around Patricia, "it's been a week thanks to you, and I've done that to you...and to you Throw something! Can you forgive me?" "You fool!" Patricia said with mock sternness. "If you stay like this all the time, I'll forgive you everything!"

"Business puts Nora in a good mood," Ellery said when Patricia told Ellery about it. "Who did Nora invite?" "My family, Mr. and Mrs. Justice Martin, Dr. Willoughby—Nora's going to invite Frank Lloyd!" "Well, let her invite Carter Bradford to come too." Patricia turned pale. "Carter?" "Oh, well, let's make peace, it's the new year—" "But why Carter in particular? The pig—not even a Christmas card for me!" "I want Bradford to be there on New Year's Eve. Even if you have to crawl to beg him, you've got to have him."

Patricia looked into Ellery's eyes. "If you insist—" "I insist." "Then I will find him of course." Carter told Patricia on the phone that it was a surprise that she invited her "rarely" and that he would "try to" come; Pettigrew was disappointed, so, oh, he'll "try" to drop by.Yes, yes, sure, I'll stop by... "Oh, Carter," Patricia continued, holding back her emotions, "why don't people get along?" But Carter has hung up the phone. Editor and publisher Frank Lloyd arrived first.He appears displeased, greets people with very short words, or doesn't speak at all; and, upon arrival, seizes the opportunity to walk over to the makeshift bar in the pantry off the kitchen.

Mr. Quinn's interest in kitchen affairs that evening was truly extraordinary.He kept going in and out of the kitchen, looking at Alberta, at Nora, at the stove, at the refrigerator, who was coming in and out, what they were doing to what they could eat or drink. But he did it with humility and enthusiasm; so when Alberta left for a New Year's Eve party at the house of her Lithuanian friends in the lower village, Nora couldn't help but marvel: "God, Ellery, you're such a family man, aren't you? Here, stuff my olives." So, Mr. Quinn stuffed the olives obediently, and Jim was busy preparing drinks in the pantry next door, but from where Mr. Quinn stuffed the olives, he could see exactly what the host was doing in the pantry.

Nora prepared a hearty automatic-style dinner, complete with caviar starter toast, stuffed celery sticks, and other appetizers, to go with the cocktails.Presently Judge Eli Martin said to Aunt Tebitha, who was staring at him disapprovingly: "Okay, don't look at me like that, Tebisha, grab a glass of wine to moisten your soul, it can make you happy, it's like going to heaven. Come on, this is a Manhattan cocktail, drink it right Hello." But John F.My sister didn't appreciate it: "Fallen guy!" Then she started lecturing Clarice Martin on the dangers of drinking in old age.Clarice had just flown in like a Vivienne witch, and when she heard Tebitha's words, she immediately replied that she was absolutely right; but as soon as she finished speaking, she continued to drink her cocktail.

Lola didn't come, Nora invited her, but Lola said on the phone: "Sorry sister, I have my own celebration plans. Happy New Year!" Rosemary had a kingdom of her own in one corner, attracting men to serve her—but it wasn't out of interest that she saw her courtiers in this way, because she seemed bored already, but felt the need to rehearse it... Patricia could not help saying, seeing that even good old Dr. Willoughby was striding forward to refill Rosemary's drink: "Why can't men see through that kind of woman?" "Probably because," Mr. Quinn said flatly, "they are attracted by the too--too alluring flesh."

With that, he headed toward the kitchen again—not only Jim saw it, but Patricia noticed it with confusion, because this was the tenth time he had been in the kitchen today. In the "good" houses of Wright Town, where they enjoy a festive evening with little mischief, but outsider Rosemary Hayter is spreading her irresistible influence at tonight's party.After a few Manhattans, she became very rambunctious, to the point of disgusting Aunt Tebitha.Her hilarious spirit particularly affected the men present, so much so that the talk and laughter became a bit uncontrollable; Xia also had to open another bottle of cherry sherbet—and each time, Mr. Quinn was there to help, smiling at Jim's side.

No sign of Carter Bradford.Patricia has been paying attention to the doorbell.Someone turned on the radio, and Nora said to Jim: "Honey, we haven't danced since our honeymoon, come on!" Jim showed an unbelievable expression, but in an instant he pulled his wife into a big dance with a smile on his face.Ellery then popped into the kitchen and got himself a drink—his first of the night. Fifteen minutes before midnight, Rosemary raised her arms dramatically and commanded: "Jim! Get me another drink!" Jim said happily: "Don't you think you've had enough, Rosemary?"

Surprisingly, Jim himself drank very little. Rosemary scolded: "Go and pour, spoiler!" Jim shrugged and headed for the kitchen.The judge said: "Boy, just mix all the wine!" This made Clarice Martinggle chuckle. There is a door between the hall and the kitchen, a door between the kitchen and the pantry, and a door between the dining room and the pantry.Mr. Ellery Queen was standing by the hall door, lighting a cigarette; because the door was ajar, he could see both the kitchen and the pantry.Jim whistled briskly in the pantry, mixing rye and absinthe.He had just filled a set of glasses with Manhattans and was about to open another bottle of cherry sherry when someone knocked at the back kitchen door.Ellery tensed, but he resisted the urge to look away from Jim's hands.

Jim put down his cocktail and answered the door. "Lola! I thought Nora said—" "Jim," said Lola quickly, "I must see you—" "Me?" Jim seemed puzzled. "But Lo—" Lola lowered her voice, Ellery said something inaudible, and Jim's body blocked Lola.But whatever it was, it was only a few minutes, because Lola was gone in a flash.Jim closed the back door and walked back, somewhat absent-mindedly, through the kitchen to the pantry, dropping a cherry in each glass. Ellery said casually to Jim as he carefully carried the tray full of glasses across the hall: "More cocktails ready, Jim?" Jim grinned.They entered the living room together, and were greeted by a chorus of cheers. "It's almost midnight," said Jim cheerfully. "Drinks are here for everyone to congratulate each other on the arrival of the New Year." He walked around the room with a tray, and everyone took a glass. "Come on, Nora," said Jim, "a drink won't do you any harm; besides, it's not every night New Year's Eve!" "But Jim, do you really think—" "This cup is for you." He hands her a glass. "Jim, I don't know—" Nora said suspiciously, then took the wine glass with a smile. "Nora, be careful," Hermione warned. "You also know that you haven't been in good health recently. Oh! I'm dizzy." "Get drunk!" John F．Speak boldly, and kiss Hermione's hand at the same time.She slapped him playfully. "Oh, Mom, a sip won't hurt me," Nora protested. "Toast!" Judge Martin yelled. "New Year's is here. Do it!" All of a sudden, horns, bells and all kinds of lively sounds came from the radio, drowning out the old judge's shouts. "Hello New Year!" John F.call out. Everyone drank it down, even Aunt Terbita.Nora took a sip resignedly and made a face; Jim laughed and kissed her. This is the signal for everyone to kiss everyone else.Mr. Quinn tried his best to pay attention to everyone present, but unexpectedly a pair of warm arms stretched out from behind to embrace him. "Happy New Year." Patricia whispered, then turned him around and kissed him on the lips.In an instant, the indoor lighting was suddenly dimmed by candlelight, making people dizzy. Mr. Quinn grinned and bent down to kiss again, but Patricia in his arms was pulled away by Dr. Willoughby. Dr. Robbie yelled, "What about me?" so that Ellery foolishly missed out. "More wine!" screamed Rosemary. "One more drink! Let's all stink from it - fuck him!" She shook the empty glass coquettishly at Judge Martin.The Judge gave her a curious look, and put his arms around Clarice.Frank Lloyd drank two cocktails quickly.Jim said he had to go down to the basement to get another bottle of rye whiskey because the upstairs had run out. "Where's my wine?" Rosemary insisted. "What's going on? There's no alcohol for the New Year!" She was angry. "Who has wine?" At that moment, Nora happened to walk past her on her way to the radio. "Hey! Nora! You have wine..." "But, Rosemary, I've had this one—" "I want wine!" Nora made a face and gave Rosemary the unfinished glass. Rosemary took the glass, drank it like a veteran, and staggered down on the sofa, paralyzed in it with a smirk.After a while, he fell asleep. "She snores," said Frank Lloyd earnestly, "such a pretty lady snores in her sleep!" So he and John F.Cover her whole body with newspapers, except her face.Next, John F.The lines of "Horatius on the bridge" were chanted, but there was no audience at all.Tebitha, blushing a little from a glass of wine, came up and called him old fool, John F.Taking the opportunity to hold her sister to dance the waltz vigorously, and then change to the rumba, but she can't cooperate well with her dance partner.Everyone admits to being a little tired, wouldn't it be nice to have a new year like this?Only Mr. Ellery Queen slipped again to the hall door to the kitchen and watched Jim Hayter make cocktails. At twelve thirty-five past midnight, a strange cry came from the living room, followed by a silence even stranger than the cry.Jim came out of the kitchen with the tray, and Ellery said to him: "They don't know what's wrong, maybe they are playing the game of reporting bad news to the banshee!" The two men hurried to the living room.Dr. Willoughby bent over Rosemary Hayter, who was still lying on the sofa, half covered with the newspaper.Mr. Quinn's heart was pounding, throbbing up and down in a subtle but distinct way. Dr. Willoughby paled as he straightened up. "John..." The old doctor licked his lips with his tongue. John F．Hasten to say: "Milo, for God's sake, this girl is just unconscious, she's just...unwell, like any other drunk. You don't have to act like..." "She's dead, John," said Dr. Willoughby. Patricia, who was originally playing the role of a banshee, seemed to have lost all her strength and collapsed into the chair.In addition to a few violent heartbeats, the word "dead" called by Dr. Willoughby's thick bass echoed in the corners of the room. Although it entered and exited every still mind at random, it seemed meaningless. "Dead?" Ellery asked hoarsely. "Is it... a heart attack, doctor?" "I think," said the doctor stiffly, "that it's arsenic poisoning." Nora screamed and passed out, hit her head on the ground, and made a "boom".At this moment Carter Bradford came in briskly, saying: "Want to come over earlier - where's Patricia - Happy New Years, everyone... what the hell is going on here?" "Did you give her a drink?" outside Nora's bedroom, Mr. Ellery Queen asked.He looked a little tired, his nose wrinkled and pointed like a thorn. "Don't worry," Dr. Willoughby said hoarsely. "Yes, Smith, I gave her a drink...Lola was poisoned too." With ferric hydroxide? That's just the right arsenic antidote." Ellery answered curtly: "I'm a magician. Haven't you heard of it?" Then he went downstairs. Rosemary's face was covered with newspapers.Frank Lloyd looked down at the papers.Carter Bradford and Judge Martin were talking in hoarse whispers.Jim Hayter sat in his chair, shaking his head angrily, as if trying to clear his head, but it was impossible.The others were upstairs watching Nora. "How's she?" asked Jim. "How's Nora?" "She's sick," Ellery replied.He had just entered the living room when he stopped. Bradford stopped talking with the judge.And Frank Lloyd continued to read the newspaper covering the body. "Fortunately, though," said Ellery, "Nora took only a sip or two of that last cocktail. She was very ill. But Dr. Willoughby thinks she'll make a full recovery." After speaking, he sat down in the chair closest to the hall and lit a cigarette. "Then it's the cocktail that's the problem?" Carter Bradford said suspiciously. "But it is. Two women had the same drink—both were poisoned with the same poison." He raised his voice and said: "And that cocktail is for Nora! It's for Nora!" Before he had turned the corner, Frank Lloyd said: "Carter, stop lecturing. You're killing me." "Don't jump to conclusions, Carter," said Judge Martin calmly. But Carter continued harshly: "That poisoned cocktail was intended to murder Nora. So who mixed it? Who brought it?" "It's Kirk Robin," said the newspaper publisher. "To hell with you, Sherlock Holmes." "It was me," said Jim, "I think I tuned it." He looked around at the people around him and said: "That's a suspicious drink, isn't it?" "Suspicious liquor!" Young Bradford, his face turning blue, went over and grabbed Jim by the collar, and yanked him out of the chair, "You bloody murderer! You want to poison Death of your wife, and your sister as a substitute purely by chance!" Jim stared at him dumbfounded. "Carter..." Martin said feebly. Carter let go, and Jim sank back into his chair, still staring at Carter dumbfounded. "What else can I do?" the Wright Township District Attorney asked in a low voice. He made his way to the telephone in the aisle - tripping over Mr. Quinn's stiff knee - picked up the receiver and asked for Chief Dakin at Police Headquarters.